2023-11-02 20:03:25
« I returned to the village on October 25, after leaving for Beirut because of the very intense Israeli bombings and fires. “, says Nancy Farrah, a resident of Alma Al-Chaab, a village near the border in southern Lebanon. Along with the Sunni town of Dhayra, the Christian locality is one of those which has paid the heaviest price so far. “The olive groves were completely burned, it’s a tragedy, she testifies, many houses were damaged. » In this village of 800 souls, alone “120 people stayed to monitor the surroundings and prevent thefts”selon Nancy Farrah.
Closure of establishments
This latent concern was felt by the director of the Œuvre d’Orient in Lebanon and Syria, Vincent Gelot, during a tour carried out in the Christian villages of Qaouza, Rmeich, Aïn Ebel and Debel on October 26, with the Maronite Archbishop of the Diocese of Tyre, Mgr Charbel Abdallah. “They feel at the mercy of Israeli bombings, even if so far their villages have not been directly affected”declares Vincent Gelot. “It’s a real exodus. They have emptied themselves of around 60% of their inhabitants, families have left because the schools are closed”, he alarms. Given the extremely volatile situation, the Lebanese Ministry of Education has ordered the closure of establishments near the border region since October 10.
“Aïn Ebel is empty, 80% of the inhabitants have left”, confirms by telephone Sister Maya Beaino, who directs the Holy Hearts school in Aïn Ebel. This school, a pillar of the French-speaking world in the region, normally welcomes a thousand students, divided equally between Muslims and Christians, from 34 villages. “The 15 to 20% of families who receive income in dollars have enrolled their children in schools in the capital, I don’t know if they will return to the village and especially when”worries the nun.
She already has the problem of paying the salaries of teachers who have been teaching online since the school closed on October 9. « I need 35,000 to 45,000 dollars (€33,000 to €42,000) for salaries, I have enough to pay for one month and then, I don’t know”warns Sister Maya, while some parents, deprived of income by the war, are already asking her to spread out payment for schools over the next seven months.
Besides this question, the urgency remains to keep open this establishment created 150 years ago. “It’s an existential questionshe points out, while Israeli strikes resume on the hills near the village. The school guarantees Islamic-Christian dialogue in the region. If we close, at least 500 families will sell their land and leave. »
Lack of support from the Church
A concern relayed by Mgr Abdallah. “Economic life has almost stopped, (including) in the schools, but what gives life to our parish are the schoolshe adds. If the children of these villages remain in school in Beirut, this risks causing a demographic change”, he fears. Isolated in her village located 5 km from the border, Sister Maya criticizes the total lack of support from the Church since the beginning of the tensions. “No one called, except the Latin bishop of Beirut Mgr César Essayan, who sent a few boxes of food for the most needy”she says. “I try to be present for my parishioners. What matters is everyone’s internal security, by Mgr Abdullah. When there is war, neither the patriarchate nor the archbishopric can work miracles. »
As the bombings intensify, the villagers feel abandoned. “There is real anxiety for the future among residents, already weakened by the economic crisis.e, continues Vincent Gelot. Those who remained cannot harvest their crops because of the bombings. »
Collection of the Work of the Orient
Added to this are other material problems amplified by the proximity of the war. “People are worried because their needs are not met, for drinking water or healthnotes the Maronite Archbishop of Tire. In the communes of Debel, Qaouza, Aïn Ebel, Rmeich and Alma Al-Chaab, there are no dispensaries or, if there are, they are not equipped to deal with a war.deplores Mgr Abdallah.
“We are going to launch a collection with the Œuvre d’Orient to be able to provide them with fuel oil, medicine, food, and also support the schoolsannounces Vincent Gelot who underlines the importance to send positive signs » to these populations who are more vulnerable than ever.
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